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Tracy Wilson named new GHHS principal

Grand Haven High School has a new principal after its former leader was promoted this month.
The Grand Haven school board on Tuesday unanimously approved the hiring of Tracy Wilson, currently the high school's assistant principal.
Wilson is the first female to be hired as principal of Grand Haven High School that Superintendent Keith Konarska knows of, he said.
"I think that speaks very positively of her professional development at the high school,' he said.

Jordan Travis

Grand Haven

Jul 6, 2011

Wilson, 45, said she started her career with Grand Haven Area Public Schools 23 years ago as a student teacher. Since then, she has worked as a long-term substitute teacher, a junior high school math teacher and the head coach of the high school volleyball. She then worked as assistant principal for 12 years.

When Scott Grimes was promoted from principal to the district’s assistant superintendent of human services, effective July 1, Wilson said she pursued another opportunity at professional development.

“With every professional growth opportunity, I’ve always wanted to be sure I was in a position to make programs better for staff, students and the community,” she said.

Although Wilson said she knew she was the only internal candidate for the high school principal, she never took it for granted that she would be selected.

“I was nervous going through the entire process,” she said.

Ultimately, Wilson said, she is “really thrilled” that she was chosen. “I’m grateful for all of the parent and community support,” she said.

Grimes presented the recommendation to hire Wilson as his replacement. He was one of 12 who interviewed the candidates for the job. The field of nearly 40 candidates was narrowed down to eight — and, in the end, Grimes said the decision to recommend Wilson was unanimous.

As principal, Wilson will make a base salary of $101,670, Grimes said.

Konarska said that Wilson did an “exceptional” job as assistant principal. “I fully expect her to succeed as principal,” he said.

Comments

Shame on GHPS for not looking at hiring a person from a different cultural back ground. How many minorities work in the grand haven school district? What does that tell a student in school who is a minority and all they ever see at school are white people running the show? Just like your local police department less the 1% of the staff is a minority.This school district does not want to understand or respect minorities students..

Kylepetty, that is a bold statement. Do you know if anyone else (not white) had applied for the position? I am not sure what the big deal is. I think they went with the best canidate and one who has been a part of GHPS for many years. Since the majority of people in th GHPS area are white then of course there is going to be a higher white to any other race ratio in the schools, police department, resturants and stores. Do you find it unfair that Zelenka nursery and the surrounding bluberry fields have very few white workers?

MandN Just like the rest of grand haven you do not see it... your comment " Since the majority of people in th GHPS area are white then of course there is going to be a higher white to any other race ratio in the schools, police department, resturants and stores.That comment its self is racist...The only reason you see white people working around here is because white people only hire white people around here. What its called is "Collegiality" is another criterion that is creeping into more and more faculty evaluation processes. Collegiality can be a code word for favoring candidates with backgrounds, interests, and political and social perspectives similar to one's own. Was GHPS search committees given any training to broaden their perspectives, or any resources to ensure that they are reaching out to the complete pool of potentially qualified applicants? Do they advertise in journals and periodicals that make special efforts to reach minority graduate students and faculty? White power!!!!!!!!

petty... It's obvious she has more than paid her dues to have been selected for the position......
"Wilson, 45, said she started her career with Grand Haven Area Public Schools 23 years ago as a student teacher. Since then, she has worked as a long-term substitute teacher, a junior high school math teacher and the head coach of the high school volleyball. She then worked as assistant principal for 12 years." C'mon...give the lady a break!

agree2dissagree, i have nothing bad to say about Ms. Wilson. the issue is grand haven high school has had and will continue to have a racial divide between the white students and white faculty and anybody that does not look like them. They will tell you they are trying to change then hire a person from inside? Collegiality" is another criterion that is creeping into more and more faculty evaluation processes. Collegiality can be a code word for favoring candidates with backgrounds, interests, and political and social perspectives similar to one's own. Was GHPS search committees given any training to broaden their perspectives, or any resources to ensure that they are reaching out to the complete pool of potentially qualified applicants?

A minority? She's the first female Principal at GHHS. There you go. In addition, if there was a minority candidate as qualified as she, they had a fair shot to interview and sell their package. Congrats to Tracy, she has a very impressive resume. We're LUCKY to have her.

Westmiweather ....Grand Haven school district does not have enough minorities in a leadership role or in any teaching position.....The Grand Haven school district is living in the 50s and using the e "Good old boys network." for who they hire...... Collegiality" is another criterion that is creeping into more and more faculty evaluation processes. Collegiality can be a code word for favoring candidates with backgrounds, interests, and political and social perspectives similar to one's own......... GHPS need to pull their head out of the sand and start to respect people of different ethnic back grounds. Sorry grand haven things are changing…… It not all white anymore

GHmom Amen!! Lets start with the dress code that NO ONE SEEMS TO FOLLOW!...
"Dress and grooming are the responsibility of the student and parent/guardian.
The student must be clean and well-groomed. Shoes must be worn at all times. Dress
and grooming must not be hazardous to any educational activity, nor may it be damaging
to property, sexually offensive or violate reasonable standards of safety, health, hygiene
or decency.
Recently, it seems as if fashion trends have been for young people to wear
clothes that are not really appropriate in the educational setting. Specifically, there has
been an increase at school as well as school sponsored events, in the number of students wearing disruptive clothing such as tank tops, short shirts, trench coats, and/or
tight fitting apparel. In order to help students (and parents) determine the appropriateness of their shorts/skirts, we’ve added a length requirement. It states, “Short Skirts/
Shorts - place your hands at your side, fingertips extended, the hem of your shorts/skirt
must be at or below your fingertips.” These are not to be worn either in school or at extra
curricular events such as games or dances.
Disciplinary action may be taken for any violation of these guidelines. Students may be sent home to change, placed in In-School Suspension, given Out-ofSchool Suspension, and/or be required to have other clothing brought to them." Yeah right...DISCIPLINARY ACTION MAY BE TAKEN...THEY MAY BE SENT HOME... that's why they get away with it...it MAY happen?

I agree with that dress code seems not to be followed. Let's hope that Ms. Wilson will enforce somehow that dress code will be followed. Everyone is free to wear whatever likes at home but the school is the place where the future character of the young is formed. In school, the character of young is flawed by dressing and language.bijuterii argint mireasa